January 2023
Vol 20 Issue 1
Rise, pick up your mat, and go home
Mk 2: 11
Dear brothers and sisters,
For our very first reflection this year, we have chosen to ponder on our community's theme for this year ̶ Rise, pick up your mat, and go. These words are said by Jesus in all the four Gospels in an almost identical manner. Thus, they assume much greater importance. We encourage you to also read all four gospel accounts of the healing of a paralytic in order to better understand this Letter (Mk 2:1-12; Mt 3:1-8; Lk 5:17-26; Jn 5:1-9, 18. This Letter may also serve as a good preparation for our Theme Weekend Retreat.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
May 2023
Vol 20 Issue 5
Make disciples of all nations
Mt 28:19
Dear brothers and sisters,
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus, we note that there has been a bit of confusion concerning the locations of Jesus' Ascension and of the Great Commission. Some think that the Great Commission in Matthew was given during Jesus' Ascension. However, Matthew's Gospel (John's Gospel also) does not report the Ascension of Jesus. Only Mark and Luke report it. It is only in Mark's Gospel that the commissioning of the eleven is immediately followed by Jesus' Ascension, but Mark does not identify its location (Mk 16:14,19). However, in Luke's account, it is evident that Jesus' Ascension occurred at Mt. Olivet (Mount of Olives) where Bethany is located (Lk 24:50, Acts 1:12).
We hope this has sufficiently aroused your curiosity to proceed to read and reflect on this month's Letter of Aquila and Priscilla, and learn the name of the mountain of the Great Commission.
Wishing you all a blessed Ascension Sunday!
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
September 2023
Vol 20 Issue 9
Come, share your master’s joy
Mt 25:21
Dear brothers and sisters,
We are pleased to share with you our reflections on our pilgrimage this month to the Simala Shrine and the Shrine of Venerable Camomot in Cebu together with the members of our lower household, which marks our final prayer meeting and fellowship as a household. The cause for the sainthood of Archbishop Camomot reflects the need for our community to identify members who live "a life of heroic virtue" and develop the capability to prepare the documentation needed for the opening of a cause for beatification and canonization. We have many such members. May the Holy Spirit guide us.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
December 2023
Vol 20 Issue 13
He would have given you living water
Jn 4:10
Dear brothers and sisters,
The Bible contains many references to the term "living water" but four stand out, two in the Old Testament and two in the New Testament. In the book of the prophet Jeremiah, God is referred to as the spring of living water, who gives his people everything, including water, but is abandoned by his people. In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks of living water as a symbol of a true knowledge of him who provides us with everything we need. This Christmas, God the Father gives us his Son, Jesus, conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Waters, so that we may partake of the living water that gives eternal life. Merry Christmas to all!
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
2023
February 2023
Vol 20 Issue 2
Jesus tempted by the devil
Mt 4:1
Dear brothers and sisters,
As we begin the season of Lent, we wish to share with you our reflections on the gospel account of the temptation of Jesus. We have all become too familiar with this gospel account. We have heard the story countless times in numerous homilies and teachings. Thus, the story appears to have lost its power to touch our hearts. We hope that by sharing with you our insights into this gospel story, your interest in this event in Jesus' life may somehow be restored and the story may once again touch your hearts.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
June 2023
Vol 20 Issue 6
Do not be afraid
Mt 10:26
Dear brothers and sisters,
Pope Francis said that we are to be missionary disciples. The idea that discipleship involves mission is expressed in Jesus’ missionary discourse in chapter 10 of the Gospel of Matthew. In this missionary discourse Jesus tells his disciples to expect hardships and sufferings as they go out into the world to preach the gospel. But in Mt 10:26-33, three times Jesus tells his disciples “Do not be afraid.” Mt 10:26-33 can be better understood if we look at this pericope as having four parts: v. 26-27; v. 28; v. 29-31; and v. 32-33. The first three parts contain admonitions to “not be afraid,” while the fourth part tells the disciples of the possible consequences of their actions. Read and reflect on the full article to understand why missionary disciples have no reason to be afraid.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
October 2023
Vol 20 Issue 10
He went off to the mountain to pray
Mk 6:46
Dear brothers and sisters,
We are happy to share with you our experience during our recent pilgrimage to Our Lady of La Salette atop the French Alps. The Gospels tell us that Jesus went up to the mountain to pray. Although the exact number is not recorded in the Scriptures, there are at least six instances when Jesus desired the serenity and isolation of the mountain to commune with the Father. The mountain has always been a symbol of praying with the uplifted thought fixed only on God. The higher we go up the mountain, the higher the thought, and the farther we are from the concerns of the world and the closer we are to heaven. We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to go to the mountain of La Salette to find that sacred space to pray.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
March 2023
Vol 20 Issue 3
I am the resurrection and the life
Jn 11:25
Dear brothers and sisters,
The gospel story about the raising of Lazarus from the dead is one of the most well-known stories from the bible that even non-Christians are familiar with it. The miracle created so much impact that John reported that “many of the Jews who had … seen what he had done began to believe in him” (Jn 11:45). It was during this event that Jesus revealed himself as the resurrection and the life, which is one of the seven times in the Gospel of John that Jesus used the words “I am” when referring to himself. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus offers many important lessons but the most important lesson is this – a testing of faith is not a denial of love.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
July 2023
Vol 20 Issue 7
Your faith has saved you
Mk 5:34
Dear brothers and sisters,
One of the more puzzling accounts of Jesus' miracles is the healing of the woman with hemorrhage, which is inserted into the narrative of the healing and restoration to life of Jairus' daughter. These two events are reported in all three Synoptic gospels (Mk 5:21-43, Mt 9:18-26, Lk 8:40-56). The common questions asked are: Why did the Gospel writers insert the narrative of the healing of the woman with hemorrhage into the narrative of the healing of Jairus' daughter? Why did they not present them as two separate events?
Read this month's issue of Letters of Aquila and Priscilla and find the answers. And reflect on the lessons from these two healings.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
November 2023 1st Issue
Vol 20 Issue 11
Anointed with oil and cured
Mk 6:13
Dear brothers and sisters,
We continue our sharing on our recent pilgrimage to France and Spain. From the shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, we passed by the little-known apparition site of Our Lady of Laus, which is located at the foot of the French Alps. We wished we could have stayed longer at this apparition site to contemplate a bit more the message of Our Lady of Laus and relish the serenity of the place. But we were on our way to Spain to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. We did not sense the aroma of sweet perfume at the shrine (as reported by some previous pilgrims) but we experienced the Blessed Mother's love and presence and brought with us the healing oil of Our Lady of Laus. And these were more than enough for us.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
April 2023
Vol 20 Issue 4
In the breaking of the bread
Lk 24:35
Dear brothers and sisters,
The story of the appearance of Jesus to two disciples on the road to Emmaus starts as among the most poignant episodes in the New Testament but ends with great tenderness and joy. Who are these two disciples? What are the three most important points for reflection in this story? We share with you our own reflection to answer these two questions. May the Holy Spirit inspire you to ponder deeply on this beautiful story on the road to Emmaus.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
August 2023
Vol 20 Issue 8
When you come to serve the Lord
Sir 2:1
Dear brothers and sisters,
We apologize for the delay in writing the August issue of Letters of Aquila and Priscilla. The work, both secular and spiritual, has been tremendous. By sharing with you our own struggles and trials, as well as the tremendous blessings we receive from the Lord, we hope to inspire and encourage you to remain undisturbed, trust in God and hope in him, and believe that you are always in the loving and protective embrace of our Blessed Mother. We pray that you will be given the grace to confirm once more the irrefutable truth that God's blessings pour out abundantly from heaven when you come to serve the Lord.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
November 2023 2nd Issue
Vol 20 Issue 12
Beautiful feet bring good news
Rom 10:15
Dear brothers and sisters,
We continue to share with you our reflections on our recent pilgrimage in France and Spain, relating our experience with relevant Bible verses.
The appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in AD 40 to the apostle James in Zaragoza, Spain is the very first Marian apparition (actually a bilocation since the Blessed Virgin was still alive at that time). Similar to the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego in 1531 where she left an imprint of her image on Juan Diego's tilma, Our Lady of the Pillar gave James a wooden statue of the apparition showing her and the Child Jesus. Both apparitions were followed by miraculous conversions to the faith.
May these readings lead you to greater devotion to Mary who always brings us to Jesus.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN